PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy Prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy allowed No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease No prior taxane therapy No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent hormonal therapy except hormone replacement therapy Radiotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered No prior radiotherapy to major bone marrow-containing areas (pelvis, lumbar spine) or to only site of measurable disease No concurrent therapeutic radiotherapy Surgery: At least 1 week since prior minor surgery and recovered At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered Other: No other concurrent experimental anticancer medications